VW-Porsche has overtaken Toyota as the world's largest automaker, at least through the first nine months of 2009, having produced 4.4 million cars to Toyota's 4.0 million. Somebody warn Poland.

This information can be heavily qualified because this is only through the first three quarters of the year and comes after Toyota drastically cut back on production in the first half while Volkswagen took advantage of cash-for-clunkers schemes and other government support for its vehicles in markets like China.

But none of that changes the fact that Volkswagen has quickly passed Toyota and GM at the top of the heap. We'll see if it lasts all year and, hopefully, if it works out any better for them. [The Guardian]